MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said on Saturday the silence of the international community on worsening drought in Somalia is deafening after he had paid a visit to the Horn of Africa nation.
On Thursday, the UN official met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the presidential palace in Mogadishu, discussing efforts to help Somali authorities provide urgent assistance to people in drought-stricken areas. read more
He traveled to the town of Baidoa on Saturday where he held meeting with the President of Southwest state Abdiasis Laftagaren, in the course of which the two discussed ways to coordinate relief campaign intended to mitigate the impact of deteriorating food and water shortages.
“Baidoa, Somalia. I’m at the epicenter of the hunger crisis ravaging the country,” UN relief chief tweeted. “I saw babies too weak to cry… The silence of the international community is deafening.”
Somalia announced a humanitarian state of emergency last year due to drought and water shortage. Earlier, Somali officials said the drought displaced more than 500,000 people from their homes, some of whom are in IDP camps in parts of the country’s south.
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